British Museum Exhibition Reexamines Myth of Emperor Nero

The British Museum in London will host a major exhibition titled 'Nero: the man behind the myth' from May 27 to October 24, 2021, aiming to separate historical fact from legend about the controversial Roman emperor. The show features over 200 objects, including manuscripts, sculptures, jewelry, and artifacts from the museum's collection and rare loans from across Europe, many exhibited in England for the first time. Curator Thorsten Opper of the British Museum's Ancient Rome department notes that the popular image of Nero as a mad tyrant was constructed by historians Tacitus, Suetonius, and Cassius Dio decades after his death, partly to legitimize the new ruling elite. The exhibition explores Nero's rise to power at age 16, his rule with his mother Agrippina and philosopher Seneca, his alleged crimes (including murder of his mother and wives), and the Great Fire of Rome, which modern scholars now doubt he started. It also highlights Nero's popular policies, games, spectacles, and building projects, contrasting with the negative portrayal that has persisted for 2,000 years. The museum reopens on May 17, with tickets for the exhibition available from May 27.